Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 10071Robbery · Co. Laois · 23 Jan 2026

Two sent for trial over Portarlington filling station robberies

A man armed with a Glock-style air pistol is accused of robbing €780 from the Maxol filling station and €355 from the Applegreen filling station on Main Street, Portarlington, on 23 January 2026. Liam Grennan, 30, a man, was arrested at the scene and also faces burglary and theft charges in Portlaoise from 21 January. A woman, Alison Denton, 42, is separately accused of robbing €780 from the Maxol station. Both appeared at Portlaoise District Court, and in April 2026 the DPP consented to both being sent for trial at the Portlaoise Circuit Court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested23 Jan
    2 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court25 Jan
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Two filling stations, Maxol and Applegreen, on Main Street, Portarlington, were robbed of cash.
  • Liam Grennan is also accused of three burglaries, trespass, and theft in Portlaoise on 21 January 2026.
  • Fresh charges include attempted robbery of a man and carrying a firearm with criminal intent on Main Street, Portarlington, on 23 January 2026.
  • Alison Denton is accused of robbing €780 in cash from the Maxol Service Station on 23 January 2026.
Where
The robberies took place at the Maxol and Applegreen filling stations on Main Street, Portarlington, County Laois.
When
The robberies are alleged to have occurred between 6.50pm and 7.10pm on Friday 23 January 2026.
Weapon
The weapon was a 6mm calibre non-branded air gun modelled on a Glock semi-automatic pistol.
Investigation
Gardaí arrested a man on Main Street between the two filling stations on 23 January 2026.
Charges
Liam Grennan is charged with two armed robberies, three burglaries, trespass, theft, attempted robbery, and carrying a firearm with criminal intent.
In court
  • Grennan appeared before a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court on 25 January 2026 and was remanded in custody.
  • In April 2026, the DPP consented to both accused being sent for trial at the Portlaoise Circuit Court.
Other details
The cash taken is alleged to be €780 from Maxol and €355 or €335 from Applegreen.
60 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo filling stations in Portarlington were robbed. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA lone male entered two service stations in Portarlington. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man is accused of two armed robberies, three burglaries, trespass and theft. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe is accused of robbing €780 in cash from Maxol Filling Station, Main Street, Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe is accused of robbing €355 in cash from Applegreen Filling Station, Main Street, Portarlington, on Friday 23 January 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe is accused of burglary at Dowlings Newsagent, Portlaoise Shopping Centre, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe is accused of burglary at Meehan House, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise, on 21 January 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe is accused of burglary of a house at Craydon Court, Portlaoise, and trespass at two neighbouring houses on 21 January 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe is accused of stealing a bottle of Paddy Power Whiskey valued at €23 from Dunnes Stores, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, on 21 January 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatFresh charges were brought against a man accused of armed robberies in Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatRobbery of €335 is alleged at the Applegreen filling station in Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatRobbery of €780 is alleged at the Maxol filling station in Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatLiam Grennan is accused of robbing €335 at the Applegreen filling station in Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatLiam Grennan is accused of robbing €780 from the Maxol filling station in Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatLiam Grennan is accused of burglary at Dowling's Newsagents in Portlaoise Shopping Centre on January 21. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatLiam Grennan is accused of burglary at Mahon House, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe robberies targeted the Maxol and Applegreen filling stations on Main Street, Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereTwo filling stations on Main Street in Portarlington were robbed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe man was detained on Main Street, between the two filling stations. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe attempted robbery and firearm incident took place on Main Street, Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe robberies took place between 6.50pm and 7.10pm on 23 January 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe robberies took place on Friday evening, between 6.50pm and 7.10pm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe robberies are alleged to have happened on January 23. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe Portarlington filling station robberies are alleged to have happened on January 23. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe robber produced a weapon and stole cash from both locations. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe male was understood to be armed with what appeared to be a gun. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe robber produced a weapon. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe male was reported to have been armed with what appeared to be a gun. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe firearm was a 6mm calibre non-branded air gun modelled on a Glock semi-automatic pistol. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe firearm was described as a 6mm calibre non-branded air gun modelled on a Glock semi-automatic pistol. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationArmed gardaí attended the scene of the robberies. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí appealed to the public for information and assistance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested a man in Portarlington in connection with the robberies. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to the public for information and assistance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested the defendant at Main Street in Portarlington on the Friday. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationWhen cautioned, the defendant replied "sorry" to all charges. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationDet Garda Padraic Ryan gave evidence of the arrest and charge. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is further accused of burglary at Dowling's Newsagents in Portlaoise Shopping Centre on January 21. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of attempted robbery of a man and carrying a firearm with criminal intent on Main Street, Portarlington, on January 23, 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeLiam Grennan is charged with attempted robbery of a man and carrying a firearm with criminal intent on Main Street, Portarlington, on January 23, 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeAlison Denton is accused of robbing €780 in cash from the Maxol Service Station on Main Street, Portarlington, on January 23, 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtNo bail application was made. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant wished to be remanded in custody. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge granted legal aid and agreed to request medical assistance in custody. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded in custody by consent to appear by video link before Portlaoise District Court on Monday 26 January 2026 at 10.30am. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHe faced two fresh charges at a recent sitting of Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe DPP consented to the accused being sent forward for trial on the robbery allegations. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Susan Fay granted legal aid and remanded the defendant in custody. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to Portlaoise District Court on March 26 for mention. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtGrennan consented to the book of evidence at Portlaoise District Court by video. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtAlison Denton was to face trial on indictment. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe DPP consented to the defendant being sent forward to the Portlaoise Circuit Court sitting on April 21. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody issued an alibi warning to the defendant. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA man was detained on Main Street between the two filling stations that had been robbed. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherCash was stolen from both stations. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has been unemployed since last October. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHe made no reply to the attempted robbery charge. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHis reply to the firearms charge was 'apologies'. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherLegal aid was granted for one solicitor and one barrister in the case. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Apr2026
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Female co-accused charged over Laois filling station robbery

    Reports the co-accused's court appearance, the robbery and related charges against both accused, the firearm description, and the bail and trial-venue decisions.

    accused, Liam Grennan, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Grennanaccused, Alison Denton, 42, female, namedAlison Denton
  2. 27 Mar2026
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Robbery accused allegedly had Glock-style air pistol in Laois

    Reports fresh charges against Liam Grennan, including attempted robbery and carrying a firearm with criminal intent on Main Street, Portarlington, a Glock-style air gun, his reply to the firearms charge, further burglary and theft charges, legal aid, custody remand, and the adjournment to March 26.

    accused, Liam Grennan, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Grennan
  3. 25 Jan2026
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Armed robbery accused appears before special court sitting in Laois

    First report of the case: a court appearance on 25 January 2026 for multiple robbery, burglary, trespass and theft charges, with remand in custody.

    accused, Liam Grennan, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Grennan
  4. 24 Jan2026
    Arrestedoffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Man arrested after armed robbery of two filling stations in Portarlington

    Original report of the armed robbery of the Maxol and Applegreen filling stations on Main Street, Portarlington, and the arrest of a man at the scene. No charge or court appearance is reported.

    suspect, male
  5. 23 Jan2026
    Arrestedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    BREAKING UPDATE: Man arrested after armed robbery of two Laois filling stations

    Breaking update reporting an arrest in the robbery of the Maxol and Applegreen filling stations; no existing case in the list covers this robbery.

    suspect, male